Disney’s first fantasy musical film “Snow White” will be released next month. “Snow White” will be screened not only in Korea but also in China, where casting controversy continues. The main character of the film, Snow White, was played by a Latino actor, not a white actor, and even Chinese state media reported that she was embroiled in controversy over her identity.
According to Chinese media on the 27th, Disney’s animated live-action film “Snow White” will be released in China on the 21st of next month.
Snow White is Disney’s first animated feature film and a fantasy musical film based on the live-action version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world’s first full-color theater animation, in 1937. It is about Snow White’s journey to take back the kingdom that was stolen by an evil queen.
Even before the movie’s release, there were controversies over its casting. Snow White usually reminds people of a woman with white skin and black hair hanging down, but the movie was directed by Rachel Ziegler, a Latino actress.
Ziegler is a famous actor who gained recognition by playing leading roles in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” and “Hunger Games: Ballad of Singing Birds and Snakes.” However, she is facing backlash from some fans because she is different from Snow White’s image.
In China, many people criticize the color or appearance of the new Snow White. Many related posts are being posted on Weibo, China’s leading social media, ahead of the movie’s release, and users are arguing through posts or comments.
There were 1,300 comments on the announcement of the release of the movie. Most of them pointed out the casting of the movie. The fact that the formula of “Snow White = White” has been broken even in China, where Western culture is relatively less prevalent.
A Weibo user pointed out, “I know that Hollywood movies recently use black people as the main characters, but Snow White is definitely white.” There was also a post that said, “There was a schedule for Snow White’s movie, but my memory of Snow White being white became confusing.”
Disney’s attempt to instill the right values in audiences, especially children, by changing typical characters repeated in existing animations and movies, such as white people with white skin and beautiful appearances and women who are less challenging and obedient than men.
However, there are concerns that the nature of the movie could be buried as the controversy over radical casting continues. It is even the subject of ridicule in China, where feelings are not good.
Chinese local media reported, “The Disney movie ‘Snow White’ will cause controversy in mainland China,” adding, “Many netizens mocked the Queen (Gal Gadot) as ‘Black Snow White’ rather than ‘Snow White’ and pointed out that she is more beautiful.”
The Global Times (GT), the English version of China’s state-run Global Times, reported an article titled “Snow White is embroiled in controversy over its identity” on the 27th.
GT said, “As the film grapples with a reboot (re-creation), it is trapped in a tug-of-war between progressive reinterpretation and fidelity to the original, a struggle that symbolizes Disney’s broader challenge to ‘political correctness’ (PC).”
Ahead of the film’s release, many netizens around the world, including Chinese, also pointed out that Ziegler’s skin color is different from the original description and that they doubt Disney’s will to the integrity of the story.
“The reboot of live-action films such as The Little Mermaid and Snow White originated from Disney’s story drought,” Beijing film critic Shi Wenshe said in an interview with GT. “We failed to make more innovative attempts in character development and storytelling, and the perception that Disney prioritizes PCs over the identity of the original character sparked backlash.”
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
